It was my New Year's goal to share with you three good reading goals during the month of January - goal setting month. And well, with the first month of our New Year quickly slipping into the record books, here is goal number three.
MAKE READING FUN!!!
The See abc's reading program is designed to be fun without much effort on your part by just using the program as designed. The beginning ABC and 123 books are made to "play" with when using the interactive, tactile steps as shown in my blog post on 1/15/11 with the video of the toddler. Kids learn the alphabet through playing alphabet card games and playing the "Guessing Game" (review lesson in our books). They get to learn how to write by "drawing" picture clue pictures with their "magic finger." They learn the vowels with the fun See abc's Vowel Cheer (see on our youtube channel) - www.youtube.com/user/seeabcs
You can make whatever reading program you are using fun by creating a reading chart for your children to keep them motivated. See video posted on 1/24/11. Every now and then for their reading reward, do something special as shown on our previous posts - an outing, a special date night, whatever you know your child would enjoy.
Do NOT make reading time too restricted, meaning children will wiggle. They are two - six years old! Roll with it! We all know that "patience" is a virtue, and this is a good time to nurture that virtue! One student of mine wanted to read her book upside down, "Phrases See What They Say." So, I thought, "Why not?" She did amazingly well with that! Of course, YOU have to keep in charge, but there is no harm in allowing your child to feel like they have some control over what they are doing when feasible. When they get off task, just gently pull them back on.
Let the child have one or two "friends" (of the stuffed or plastic variety) sit and listen to them read. Funny how this helps. Remember, their greatest talent is imagination, and that is why See abc's works so well for them in the first place!
Choose a time to read when your child is happy - not nap time, not when hungry; you get the idea. Be flexible.
There are a multitude of ways to make beginning reading fun. This is all I will share for now. But, the whole key to your child liking to read or not liking to read, is based on the fun-o-meter that YOU establish! Good luck, and please share your comments of other tips on making reading fun for your child.
Doreese
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Reading Charts and Milestone Rewards
Back in October on 10/21/10, I talked to you a bit about Reading Rewards. Here is another idea for a reward.
My little granddaughter finished the See abc's reading program a couple of months ago. I had told her that when she finished the entire program (the learn to read portion, not the Gumfounded books), that I would take her out to dinner at a really nice restaurant. Just the two of us! Telling her a ways ahead of time gave her something big to look forward to. So, in December, we went on our "date" to Texas Road House to celebrate. The night was all about her. I chose that particular restaurant because they have certificates to give children for a free dinner as a reward for their reading. I have several of these certificates, and if your child has finished the program (or when they do finish it), I would be happy to send you one. Texas Road House does a lot to promote literacy at a child's level, and I thank them for that.
It was a very fun night. Being December, I told the waitress that when I was there last year there was a surprise visit from Santa Claus. She said that he had just recently been there so wouldn't be coming that night. Just a few moments later, and what should we hear, but the jingling of bells and a guy with a beard! Sam stared in amazement as he came into view; the waitress pointed her out - he knew just what to do! He came and he visited her; left a cane made of candy. Boy oh boy, you've never seen a child's face shine more brightly!
She talked about it all night... "And, he wasn't even suppose to come, but he did!" It was definitely a night full of memory making!
After dinner (still at the restaurant), I presented her with an additional award - a certificate from "Texas Road House" and a little bear holding a chalk board with "ABC" written on it! When she completes the fun "Gumfounded" books, she will receive another certificate from "See abc's LC."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLgKMEOQOfA
Watch this short video of kids having fun with their reading charts and earning stickers and prizes. You will see what a simple chart and some stickers can do!Doreese
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Second Reading Goal for 2011
Did anyone take me up on making charts for your kids?
For my second goal suggestion, I'm just going to re-emphasize the suggestion that you "read to your child/children 20 minutes a day." However, I want you to think of it as more than a suggestion; make it a priority in your life. The habit of daily reading is very important. For some, the same time of day works best, for others, it is "catch it when you can." The important thing is that you catch it!
Your children want and need YOU. Reading together; you reading to them, or them reading to you, or you teaching them how to read is a very special bonding time, and they will look forward to it. Reading to your child is above and beyond the time you spend teaching them. You may want to separate the two into different blocks of time. I'm not suggesting you set your timer, because obviously there is a big difference between the attention span of a 2-year old and a 5-year old. The point is that you DO IT! Five minutes is better than nothing, just budget that time in your schedule. It will pay off big in the long run!
The second goal for myself is to learn how to download pictures onto my computer. I don't think it's that hard, I've just been putting it off because I think I must be lazy! It just seems like a pain to go through all of those hundreds of pictures that you can take so quickly and find what you want. Hopefully it's not as bad as I've made up in my mind that it is! And now, to find a patient teacher!
Doreese
For my second goal suggestion, I'm just going to re-emphasize the suggestion that you "read to your child/children 20 minutes a day." However, I want you to think of it as more than a suggestion; make it a priority in your life. The habit of daily reading is very important. For some, the same time of day works best, for others, it is "catch it when you can." The important thing is that you catch it!
Your children want and need YOU. Reading together; you reading to them, or them reading to you, or you teaching them how to read is a very special bonding time, and they will look forward to it. Reading to your child is above and beyond the time you spend teaching them. You may want to separate the two into different blocks of time. I'm not suggesting you set your timer, because obviously there is a big difference between the attention span of a 2-year old and a 5-year old. The point is that you DO IT! Five minutes is better than nothing, just budget that time in your schedule. It will pay off big in the long run!
The second goal for myself is to learn how to download pictures onto my computer. I don't think it's that hard, I've just been putting it off because I think I must be lazy! It just seems like a pain to go through all of those hundreds of pictures that you can take so quickly and find what you want. Hopefully it's not as bad as I've made up in my mind that it is! And now, to find a patient teacher!
Doreese
Saturday, January 15, 2011
See abc's® - How Toddlers Learn the Alphabet
This adorable little 2-year old shows just how easy and early children can learn the alphabet; picture clues and sounds. The letter names are more difficult and come gradually. However, it is the sounds that children need to know in order to read, so we are not as concerned with how quickly they learn the letter names.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb_KsspXEMA
I'm very excited to see that this video has received 95 views in only 5 days! Maybe by midnight, it will have reached 100! This is a record for us! If you like this video, please share it.
Can you see the many senses Drew is using to learn with? Visual, auditory (hearing), and tactile, plus motion (I'm not sure what sense that is, so I include it with tactile). There are three interactive things that he does with this book, which makes learning a fun game. He has no idea how much he is learning!
Doreese
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb_KsspXEMA
I'm very excited to see that this video has received 95 views in only 5 days! Maybe by midnight, it will have reached 100! This is a record for us! If you like this video, please share it.
Can you see the many senses Drew is using to learn with? Visual, auditory (hearing), and tactile, plus motion (I'm not sure what sense that is, so I include it with tactile). There are three interactive things that he does with this book, which makes learning a fun game. He has no idea how much he is learning!
Doreese
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
First Goal of 2011 for You and Me
Happy 2011! It has arrived and we should all be revved up and ready to jump in with new conviction to do those things that we want to do, or should I say should do, right? Well, we said that we would give you some good goals to get you going.
The first would be for you to make a reading progress chart for your child. If your child is in the "Imletteration" package, then there are all ready charts in those books. But, if your child is in the See abc's beginning reading part of the program, or has finished the program, you can make your own fun charts as seen in this youtube video below. (If you are using a different program, I would suggest using charts as well.)
You will see what a simple piece of paper, some cheap stickers and a small, inexpesive prize can do to motivate your child to want to reach his/her reading goals. And, you will want to help them to reach their goals in learning to read because, that is reaching one of your goals too! Now, enough talk of goals - go and watch this cute video and share it with others.
Oh, as for my goal; it was to be able to try to remember how to upload a video from my video camera, put it onto my computer and turn it into a youtube for you to see. And, with some frustration and a lot of time, I did it - all by myself! (pat, pat, pat myself on the back!) Hopefully it will be easier next time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLgKMEOQOfA
Doreese
The first would be for you to make a reading progress chart for your child. If your child is in the "Imletteration" package, then there are all ready charts in those books. But, if your child is in the See abc's beginning reading part of the program, or has finished the program, you can make your own fun charts as seen in this youtube video below. (If you are using a different program, I would suggest using charts as well.)
You will see what a simple piece of paper, some cheap stickers and a small, inexpesive prize can do to motivate your child to want to reach his/her reading goals. And, you will want to help them to reach their goals in learning to read because, that is reaching one of your goals too! Now, enough talk of goals - go and watch this cute video and share it with others.
Oh, as for my goal; it was to be able to try to remember how to upload a video from my video camera, put it onto my computer and turn it into a youtube for you to see. And, with some frustration and a lot of time, I did it - all by myself! (pat, pat, pat myself on the back!) Hopefully it will be easier next time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLgKMEOQOfA
Doreese
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
